TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross

I know who the next president will be

August 13, 2012 @ 8:31 am (Updated: 12:23 pm - 8/13/12 )

cedargrove
Mitt Romney has picked the Republicans' top numbers guy as his vice president. (AP Photo)

>>Boze: Why Ryan should scare Democrats

Mitt Romney has picked the Republicans' top numbers guy as his vice president.

"Join me in welcoming the next president of the United States, Paul Ryan," said Romney introducing his running mate.

Or president, whatever. It doesn't matter because whoever wins won't really be in charge. The numbers will be in charge.

And the numbers say that if you're in the middle class, your taxes are going up. They will go up if Obama and Biden win. They will go up if Romney and Ryan win. And they will go up even if they don't go up.

For example, Romney would cut tax rates and make up the difference by eliminating tax deductions. But most of those deductions, like the home mortgage deduction, help the middle class. Your payments go up. Obama says tax the rich, but even they don't have enough.

Paul Ryan is famous for actually tackling the growing Medicare deficit. In fact, he and Obama agree on that. But cut Medicare how? Are we really going to cut doctors' salaries? Are we going to tell the old folks, 'Your chemotherapy is a waste of money, we're not paying for it?' I bet we end up raising Medicare taxes, too.

But here's the kicker. Even if taxes aren't raised one penny, they will raise themselves. The numbers show we are borrowing about 40 percent of what we spend. And while a lot comes from China, most of it comes from the Federal Reserve Bank, which is to say, it's printed. Which if it goes on too long, causes inflation, which is just an-across-the-board tax on everybody.

So whoever wins in November, come January, we already know who will take the oath of office: President Big Scary Numbers, and Vice President Paymore Tax. Hail to the Chief.

By DAVE ROSS, Ross and Burbank host

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Comments (57)


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  • Lysander wrote...
    excellent point
    August 13, 2012 8:11 am
    And the exact point Ron Paul and Gary Johnson have been making for decades now. What is frustrating is we have choice to elect a president that understands this reality or one that choses to ignore it and make the problem worse. The American people seem dead set to continue to chose leaders with their heads in the sand.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Dave R- very honest blog. This spending problem has been obvious for 30 years.
    August 13, 2012 8:13 am
    It is the most predictable problem ever. I read about it over 30 years ago. R Samuelson, economist has been writing about it for years. I plan to sell my dream home, move into a modest home, work part time, live modestly because when the stuff hits the fan, folks in the upper middle income like me will get hammered and I want no part of it. I wonder how many other folks in my demo will do the same. Everyone I talk to is planning to cut way back and cut back on how hard they work. We will see just how much the upper middle class can be milked. The rich will jjust move their money somewhere else.
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  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Obama the Destroyer has nearly accomplished his true goal
    August 13, 2012 8:22 am
    that America becomes a bankrupt Third World nation incapable of defending itself. In Obama's view, America's unequaled strength has been the cause of all injustice in the world. Oh, you bet he was listening to Rev. Wright...

    “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America. No! No No! God damm America … for killing innocent people. God damm America for threatening citizens as less than humans. God damm America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme.”

    Rev. Wright is smiling now.

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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Paul by gum your right on..!..!
    August 13, 2012 8:40 am
    Spend us into oblivion , declare capitalism as a failure , junk the Constitution and become Marxist. Cloward-Pivens is part of it . have everyone dependent on the state.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Don't be such a killjoy, Dave. Next thing you'll be telling us the global economy is just a great Ponsy scheme
    August 13, 2012 8:51 am
    OOOOOPs - Judging from Europe, I guess it is. Just don't tell the Chinese - at least until we can borrow another $7T or so.

    Actually, you're sorta right. But you're also wrong. WHOEVER wins isn't going to raise taxes on much of anybody (unless cleverly disguised as a 'mandate', of course). Obama found that out in with the 2010 elections. And is President Romney eliminates mortgage deductions, you'll see 'impeach the president' bumper stickers - no republican cars.

    And, in any event, whoever wins, they probable will have congress against them. And still no one will want to talk. ...... So, 4 more years - WHOEVER wins.

    Is it too early for 2016 yet ???????

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  • kata wrote...
    the tax system needs simplification
    August 13, 2012 8:54 am
    For businesses and individuals alike. I don't know how anyone can argue otherwise. If your tax bracket says you're to pay X% - that's what you should be paying. And, no one should be getting more back than they paid in.

    Inflation is already here. Anyone who pays attention to the shrinking products on the store shelves can understand how companies are trying to hide it.

    I would like to see interest rates go up for the simple reason of letting me invest my cash into savings rather than the stock market. But for that to happen I assume we'd be paying even more money in interest to China and our other debtors. It sure is one hell of a hole that's been dug. Free money has ended up chaining us - or at the very least guiding us down a very narrow path with investors concocting the stupidest, riskiest ways to make a buck...

    Lastly the Feds needs to stop spending so much. Ron Paul did have some very good ideas to cut domestic spending. But it's not a row, I think, American's are prepared to hoe. Local communities would have to step in and take up slack through charity and good will. States would have more autonomy because they wouldn't be being led about by the nose with Federal dollars - But oh those tasty Federal dollars... I just don't see this generation prepared to do it. Too many years of working with not just a net - but a net and bubble wrap, to boot.

    So I guess, as a realist I see nothing changing. Not because of who we have for President - but because so few people are ready to do what's needed and vote accordingly on all levels of Government.

    I have my small nest feathered and as out of the wind as I can. I am just waiting for the inevitable storm.

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  • Sean wrote...
    Hallelujah to that, Kata...
    August 13, 2012 12:27 pm
    "For businesses and individuals alike. I don't know how anyone can argue otherwise." TRUER WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN. When will we get leaders who do something about it, or voters who see it??
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Kata-good post. and kudos for always having something intelligent to add.
    August 13, 2012 12:39 pm
    male or female? or rather not say? and I agree with u our society is not even close to being able to make tough decisions and sacrifice. Most want the other guy to sacrifice.
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  • kata wrote...
    thanks LOM & Sean
    August 13, 2012 3:15 pm
    But I am not talking about sacrifice. There is nothing sacrificial about not spending more than you take in. It's not sacrifice when you plan your life making the right decisions early on - and understanding the consequential ripple effect to making bad decisions.

    My Dad taught me how to handle credit and save money. He told me that SS wouldn't be there when I was old enough to need it - and he said that to become rich it wasn't only about making a lot of money - it was about spending it wisely. It was about as important as my Mom teaching me how to read, write and count before I entered school, bake bread and keep house (Yes, I said keep house.)

    Kids today (and that makes me feel old just saying it) seem to have none of these skills nor pay much care to their necessity. I blame the parents.

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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Kata-what I love about living in this country up to now is you dont have to be rich to have a great life.
    August 13, 2012 6:02 pm
    Just get a skill, spend your money smartly and u can live in a nice house, take vacations to Maui and own a ski boat. It's been quite nice this america.
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  • kata wrote...
    well it's a relative idea
    August 13, 2012 6:40 pm
    Having been to impoverished areas in other countries I feel quite wealthy. My house is smallish but my property is pleasantly large enough for veggie gardening. The crappy little dock to fish & launch a kayak is everything I need. And the view of the mountains... well, it's amazing what people take for granted.
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  • BarnDerk wrote...
    I have to Wonder
    August 13, 2012 8:58 am
    I read these comments and wonder, is this really the concensus among the overall electorate. I will discount the left wholesale, for they support the spending at all cost. Always will. But the everyday laymen, the largely disconected, the independant that listens to and watches mainstream handfed news. That are concerned about the future, their own if noone elses. The posters here seem to realize that borrowing takes from the cilren taxes takes from the producers and printing takes from the savers. Just to spend money like a shop-aholic who spends money they don't have to impress people they don't know.
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  • The Chuckster wrote...
    Spending is great, look how successful stimulus was
    August 13, 2012 9:20 am
    O said unemployment would be 5.7% at this time when the bill was passed. It's Rush Limbaughs fault . O wanting to cut 700 million from Medicare is nuanced, Ryan's plan will kill granny. Romney is a tax cheating felon who abuses animals and kills steel workers wives. That's when he has a free moment from running his death squads in El Salvador. Tea party racist and hateful, occupy virtuous. Conservative Christians Want to take away women's rights while I stick up for the religion of peace treatment of women. Sharia law is progressive towards women's rights. Seattle D glossing Romney " Mitler" is tolerant. My northwest loves nazi references from commenters apparently. That's good tone!!! And civil!! I love goverment! All hail the messiah and media! Off to watch MsNBC
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    The next President?
    August 13, 2012 9:43 am
    Being that we have not had a President since President Bush left office almost 4 years (And 5 TRILLION plus dollars later!)yea, I know who will be President after this November!
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    It's me! - Obama will be re-elected.
    August 13, 2012 10:30 am
    And i will be right here to laugh at you as you cry a river of tears for Romney... Seriously... i'm going to laugh at you every time i see you on here.
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  • Roark wrote...
    Numbers are what they are...
    August 13, 2012 9:45 am
    BUT the fist thing you have to do to get out of a hole is STOP DIGGING!
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  • DesertRez wrote...
    One quick clarification
    August 13, 2012 9:52 am
    The Federal Reserve doesn't even need to print the money when they can just punch some numbers on a keyboard. It's digital versus analog destruction of our country!
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